President Bouteflika may run for a third term in Algeria
2007-11-20
Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem is calling on his party supporters to campaign for an amendment of the constitution to allow the re-election of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2009.
By Achira Mammeri for Magharebia in Algiers – 20/11/07
 [Getty Images] A constitutional amendment would allow Bouteflika a third term as president |
Putting an end to widespread speculation about succession in 2009, Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem announced last week that President Abdelaziz Bouteflika will soon seek to amend the constitution to run for a third term.
During a meeting at the National People's Assembly on November 14th, Belkhadem called on National Liberation Front (FLN) MPs to support the efforts for a third term with a campaign to raise public awareness and by backing the draft law once submitted to parliament.
Belkhadem has been promoting the amendment plan while canvassing for the November 29th local elections. During a meeting in Constantine on Monday, he called on FLN supporters to campaign for the re-election of the president. The prime minister was quoted in Algerian daily Liberte as saying the third term "is not a campaign slogan; rather it is a call to party supporters to advance the policy of national reconciliation."
Under article 74 of the Algerian constitution the president serves a five-year term and may be re-elected just once. Bouteflika has been elected twice, in 1999 and 2004, and is due to leave office in 16 months.
To guarantee the success of his plan Belkhadem, head of government and Secretary-General of majority FLN, will need the support of his deputies, especially as they are divided between those who support Belkhadem and those who support rival Ali Benflis (unsuccessful 2004 presidential candidate and former FLN leader).
In a highly-publicised November 14th interview with Italian news agency Ansa, President Bouteflika refused to discuss succession.
Answering a question on the subject, Bouteflika replied: "You are trying to lead me into idle speculation. I will not go down that route, but I will all the same stress how determined I am, under all circumstances, to respect the sovereignty of the Algerian people and all its means for democratic expression."
Since taking office, President Bouteflika has conducted a thorough review of a number of fundamental state laws. Earlier this year, Belkhadem said that three amendment proposals had been forwarded for consideration to the president. The government was expected to hold a referendum on the revision of the country's constitution later this year to propose a shift from a parliamentary to a presidential system.
Proponents of a third term for Bouteflika have long faced opposition due to the leader's perceived poor health. In 2006 the leader underwent surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer, but Algerian daily El Nahar declared Saturday, citing government doctors, that "President Bouteflika's convalescence has been completed."
Many political parties are waiting for an official announcement by Bouteflika before adopting a stance. Chihab Seddik, number three man in the National Rally for Democracy, told Magharebia: "It is best to wait for an official announcement of the date of the referendum before talking about this issue." Party Secretary-General Ahmed Ouyahia has already stated however that he would support any moves made by the president, including constitutional revision.
Islamist party Movement of Society for Peace, also of the presidential alliance, is adopting the same stance. "There’s still a lot of confusion about this issue. We do not know whether the President of the Republic wants to revise the fundamental text as a whole, or to simply revise article 74 to be able to stand for a further term," said party Vice-President Abdelkader Mokre.
"In the second case," he added, "the real question to be answered is this: Are you in favour of a third term for the president – yes or no?" Only the party’s consultative committee will be able to answer that."
In the event the president chooses the first option, Mokre said the party "will insist that human rights and political freedoms, as well as the preservation of national continuity, are assured."
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Fathi Posted 2007-11-21
He should be able to run, even after his death.
عبد السلام البقالي Posted 2007-11-21
For what reason does the president Bouteflika want to run for a third mandate inchallah...? He knows better than anyone else that global democracy practices (which he says to support) don't permit a third mandate...And he's certain that his health condition isn't fine...Is there in Algeria, with its length and width, with its history and its men no one who deserves to be president of the republic except Bouteflika...? Or does the interest of some (and they're a minority ruling and dominating) lie in the continuation of the rule of Bouteflika endlessly because the continuation of Bouteflika means their own continuation. Or does the presidency chair have an irresistible attraction and fascination whatever this costs. Or is the model of Ali Abdellah Saleh, Housni Moubarak, Kadhafi, and Omar El Bachir their people's fate?...Why don't rest...A question to which the answer remains suspended until democracy wakes up from its deep sleep in most of the Arab World's nations.
جزائري Posted 2007-11-21
Algeria is one of the richest countries with its wealth and young resources, if not the richest in the world. But it needs honest men to serve the nation and the people. Inchallah our dream will become reality, and the dream of the honest martyrs will be fulfilled and Algeria will become a country to make us proud of it. Long live Algeria. Glory and immortality to our loyal martyrs.
bensid Posted 2007-11-28
I would prefer that the president run again, even sick; he is the only president that truly understands Algerians, and the only one to have pushed the idea of increase the number of functionaries that everyone expects in January. He is the only president to have launched mega projects during his tenure, most notably the East-West Highway. It is so important to our county’s economy to have a highway connecting so many of its regions. I personally think Bouteflika would be the best: he has a great understanding of the people and he has always driven straight over the bumpy road of all of our confused sectors. It is just like the old proverb: one man with experience is worth two without. And, as for Algeria, this proverb is more important than in any other country in the world. The details of the basis of a state (especially the state of Algeria from the time of its independence on through today) are better understood by Bouteflika than by anyone else.
algerien Posted 2007-11-30
If article 74 of the constitution is changed, the one who is behind that will destroy one of the greatest and most important achievements of Algeria since independence.
عبد الرحمان Posted 2007-12-01
I'm against a third mandate.
جزائري Posted 2007-12-03
The best president in the world is Bouteflika. If Bouteflika goes, Algeria will be lost. Long live Bouteflika. Always with you Bouteflika, may God protect you our president. I wish you long life with more progress and prosperity for our country. I'm against your enemies who are jealous and envious against you and your country Algeria. Long live Algeria and Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
abderrahim Posted 2007-12-18
I don't care what Boutflika knows or doesn't know, I don't care if he is good for the country or not, I don't care if he has more experience than anybody on the face of the planet. WE MUST NOT PLAY WITH THE CONSTITUTION THAT WAY.
farid Posted 2007-12-20
I am in favour of a new mandate. Long live our country!
جزائري أصيل Posted 2007-12-21
Long live Bouteflika, without hesitation, I and all the people are with you, go ahead and we’re with you. Even if you go through the sea, we’ll go with you. Long live Algeria. God’s mercy on the martyrs of the revolution and mission. Inchallah a united Maghreb with the Western Sahara.
redha Posted 2007-12-26
Hello Mr. President, I am sending you my greatest respects and also my great respects to our state, government, military and people. Everyone is talking about Algeria, saying it is the only film in the world. To those who say Algeria is rich, I say that that is true, but you need to know that Algeria needs to be rich for its men and women to lead this country so it will be a model for the whole world. There is not a country in the world that has not made a mistake, there is not a country in the world that has not suffered from excess, and there is not a country in the world that has succeeded in leading a nation and the entire country itself easily. All we are seeing now is criticism about this or that person. But, if we were to say we have a solution or we can help or we have some really nice leaders, that is our future. And there you have it: today, everyone is being destabilised by their own leaders. And whose fault is it? Whose? Is it Bouteflika’s, like everyone criticises? Of course not. Is it the fault of the entire government leading this country? Of course not. It is the fault of the people who have always been there in Algeria’s difficult times? Of course not. It is true that the president is sick, but that is not solution in figuring out what to do about a third term. What we are saying is that Bouteflika does not have any real men who are able to take on the role of leadership as the maintainer, foundation and real ambition of Algeria. We need to stop with words. Algeria is rich. We need to prepare men and women who are rich in their hearts and re-analyse the darker times in Algeria’s past. At this time, everyone has their own place and everyone needs to respect their own position, not trying to be a master of something that is not their profession. That is where the true mark of a leader is.
walid Posted 2007-12-27
Hello, Mr. Bouteflika’s running for a third term is, in my opinion, a strategic error for the future of our country. Given his age and his state of health, it would be more prudent to plan on a revitalisation of the political class, making it younger and more dynamic. An apprenticeship in governance would also permit the preparation of tomorrow’s elites, where both skill and knowledge will by key to our success. And, this way Mr. Bouteflika’s exit would be more honourable. That is what the game of democracy is: succession.
gol Posted 2007-12-27
I think that Mr. Bouteflika should leave office: so long as he supports a referendum for the Algerian terrorists of the GSPC and the Moroccan terrorists against the Polisario, he cannot give anything to Algeria let alone the region of the Maghreb. Moreover, a third term would be proof of flagrant electoral corruption. If he were to leave now, he would be leaving an Algeria that is sick and agonising like himself. Bouteflika is a part of Algeria’s black history. Algerians want to turn the page; they want to turn towards the future and benefit from the country’s wealth. What is the point in saying Algeria is independent if the Algerians neither benefit from their country’s wealth nor from the freedom of expression?
سليم Posted 2007-12-31
Haven’t you woken up, people full of evil? Life is expensive, and you say long live, long live. What has Bouteflika done?
Imad Posted 2008-01-01
One thing must be known: it is not possible that everything with Algeria comes down to just one person… it is too big for that. But, it must not be forgotten that honest men have become rare. It is quality we are searching for, not quantity. This quality, present in our so very dear president, has made the people adore and love him. He will always be near to them. And, these people are ready. They are more politicised than the best politicians in the world, even George W.. And (I am being sincere here), if you help out in an Algerian political debate, you will know the reality of it, you will know just how many Algerians are indeed really intelligent. They know where their interests are. And, maybe you would pose one of the following questions: “How can this be true?” or “Isn’t this community degrading?”. I would respond to you, dear Madam or Sir, with complete logic: the years of disorder we have passed through since 1980 and the “Red Decade” were enough to put the biggest countries in danger. The great world powers had interests in and conflicts over conquering this country, most notably because of our riches. This can explain away part of this disorder, which our people were not able to easily clean up. But, with time came our leader, our great man, who, due to his politics and his long-term outlook, is considered among the world’s best strategists. We can now say that we are on the right path to win a better future in just ten years. Since 1999, we were able to bring about miracles with this man. When he came to us, we did not have a dime, but now we are considered as one of the richest countries in the world. And, grand projects are still being fulfilled in spite of difficulties.
maurice Posted 2008-01-08
I think that it is pointless to talk about a second or third term or even more. In under-developed countries, truth is found in the wisdom of de La Fontaine and Darwin, respectively: “The strongest is best” and “the theory of natural selection is where the most apt survive.” To be continued... Bye
billal Posted 2008-01-08
Moroccans, stick to your own misery and let the Algerians take care of dirty laundry. In every case they will solve their own problems, regardless of obstacles or the “dirty tricks and traitors” showing up in some neighbouring countries and being terrified of their future. Algeria will never fall; it will always be there to block the would-be colonialist, miserable, traitor countries of the day.
nadir Posted 2008-01-10
Moroccans and Algerians should be brothers. Beware of manipulation.
ali Posted 2008-01-11
Long live Algeria! Long live Morocco! We are brother and sisters standing against these Generals! I am from Cambetta, Oran. Have a good day, everyone.
M. Boughanem Posted 2008-01-13
Hi Everybody, I would just like to say that certain people continue to be mistaken by repeating on into eternity that Bouteflika is the best president ever. First of all, the people did not elect him; he was nothing more than the army’s candidate. He is a dictator disguised in democracy. For those who want a third term for him, they see things in black and white. And, if the political class remains immobile and a third term is established, then Algerians will surely sink into misery. The people are just running off at the mouth. Long live Algeria! In spite of everything, my beautiful country remains the standing victor. It is a rich and expansive land, where a lot of mothers have suffered and given birth to honest men who never give themselves in to indifference. The North African calls on his origins. Long live Nekni!
Walid Posted 2008-02-01
Hello, I have already given my reasons why I disagree, but in any case I feel the consensus among the ruling class in our country revolves around the rehashing of current policy for more or less contradictory reasons. Therefore, I propose to our current leaders to save time and money on this famed referendum, and just pass this masquerade of reform unilaterally as a law or decree. We are not duped to the point that we believe ballots will decide the future of our esteemed President Boutef. Long live Algeria and free Algerians.
ahmed Posted 2008-02-02
Hello My Muslim Brothers and Sisters: Of course we will never have democratic elections in the Arab countries, let alone Africa in general. But, it is the West that is always putting their little poodles in power. And, whenever they try for more, the West spits them out just like they are doing in Idriss Deby, Chad, where the country is paying for Zoe’s *hostage-takers*, while France does nothing. They would rather get rid of him and put in another president, giving amnesty to all the zoe hostages. Yes, this is certainly democracy, my Western gentlemen!
reda Posted 2008-02-02
Here in Algeria, we are not used to democracy and there is no need to hold a grudge against us for this, like Morocco and all the other Arab countries are doing. We are just used to people… If Chirac were here, he would be president for life. Democracy requires that a people be mature and cultivated, thinking with their head and not with their heart.
said Posted 2008-02-06
Hello Everybody and Hello to all the Algerians, First of all, Algeria’s problems didn’t just start today, and, just so we are all on the same page, there is not a country in the world without problems. There are even countries who have worse ones. Sometimes there are people who do not have a single sentiment for their country. I hope that they one day understand that Algeria has fought so that its people can keep living better and better. And, ever since 2000 I have seen nothing but progress. Long live Algeria! Long live Bouteflika!
aminos Posted 2008-03-13
A third term for Bouteflika will be a veritable disaster for Algeria. The *French collaboration parties* are veritable signs of the disaster of his policies towards young people; they have lost hope in seeing Algeria prosper. Before Independence, young people were saying that everything would be better after colonialism. But, nothing came of it. The young people of the Black Decade were saying that once oil prices went up and terrorism was beaten, everything would be better. But, nothing came of it. These young collaborators have no hope: everything always goes wrong. Long live Algeria!
l'Algerois Posted 2008-03-14
May God protect Bouteflika! His policies are really good, especially with regards to the money reserves, which will be shared by us all. We are becoming more and more rich. As for the Collaborators, there is no need to get worried. Personally, I encourage you to leave and go to another country. Get out of Algeria, you scum, so that we can breath a bit. Long live Bouteflika, our protector!
boualem Posted 2008-03-15
Mr. President: Too much of one thing is the lack of another.
Anonymous Posted 2008-03-17
We have the government and the president we deserve.
gol Posted 2008-03-18
A third term for Bouteflika or anyone else will change absolutely nothing about the situation of Algerians, because whether it is a president from the FLN named Abdelaziz or Mohamed, it is six in one hand and a half-dozen in the other.
نصرالدين Posted 2008-05-24
After due greetings and respect, we want his continuity in the rule, because we have a president who cannot be replaced by the treasures of life. With wishes of success. Beryala Nasr Eddine Jamaa.
كريم الأصيل Posted 2008-06-03
We aren’t brothers with anyone. We are able to overcome our trouble as we liberated Algeria in 1962 and got out of the crisis of terrorism in 1999, the country has moved forward. With the support and will of God and our men we can be the strongest and richest country in the world. Long live Bouteflika. He liberated it, built it and led it to the end.
karim Posted 2008-10-03
Public debt.
Dzairayen Posted 2008-10-31
What an outrage!!! Term limits are there for a reason. Term limits are not there for people like Bouteflika, he is a competent leader, and we all know that. No, term limits are there to prevent incompetent leaders from staying on for life. Do not mess with such basic checks and balances. This is a typical weakness of incomplete leaders who really believe that only they are able to lead and delegate. Please Mr Bouteflika, surprise everyone and go down in history as the man who relinquished the throne, despite all the temptations of power and inaugurated the principles that in time ushered in Algeria's golden age.
sarah Posted 2009-03-28
Seriously speaking, he was in office for two terms and it is time for him to leave his place to others. What are these elections? In any case, these elections are rigged – everyone knows it. So, let us not vote!
تيما Posted 2009-04-03
In the name of God the most gracious the mot merciful. I am Habiba. My dear father beloved and dear Bouteflika, the elections are close by, God willing you will be our leader Bouteflika. I am a jobless girl and have nothing. But I have two higher diplomas. I am a teacher of piano and guitar but I am jobless. But, long live Bouteflika. I love you so much. I am one of the descendants of the messenger of God. I live with you in Algeria. I will defend you with my blood and soul Bouteflika. God willing, I will vote for you all my life. If I have the power, I would have made you the Emir of Algeria. By God, I am the princess of its Mecca, Sir, by God, I stole it from its Mecca and live with you for years sir. May God protect you, God willing, grant you health, wellness and approval, God willing, unite your people, protect and guide them, God willing. God bless you for peace in Algeria. I saw him when I returned from immigration making many people happy. Thank you.
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